Very few people relish speaking before crowds of strangers. Most of us try our best to avoid public speaking situations because of the feelings we’re likely to experience. That isn’t the right move according to Theo Tsaousides, Ph.D., who shared his expert opinion on the matter in Psychology Today. “Communicating your ideas clearly and presenting them openly in a public forum is an essential component of success across several domains of life,” explained Mr. Tsaousides. “Being a good public speaker can help you advance your career, grow your business, and form strong collaborations.” Nearly everyone would probably agree with that assessment. Just consider the fact that the grand majority of notable leaders throughout history have almost always been adept orators.
It would be a mistake to assume that exceptional public speaking is simply the product of natural ability. That is the excuse we use to deceive ourselves into perpetual avoidance. Forbes contributor, Richard Zeoli, emphasized how much instruction and practice are really required to excel at public speaking. “I have learned that even the people we think are the most natural public speakers often undergo significant training,” according to him. “Either they’ve pursued formal public speaking education and coaching or they’ve taken every opportunity to stand on their feet and deliver speeches.” That isn’t necessarily something everyone is ready and willing to admit. However, for those of us committed to self-improvement, that news is extremely promising.
Fortunately, there is absolutely no shortage of informative guidance to examine. Some especially compelling recommendations came from Dan Pallotta at the Harvard Business Review. Mr. Pallotta introduced everything from knowing the goal of the speech and memorizing it to rehearsing transitions and escaping technical jargon. His final takeaway revolved around empathy and relating to the audience. It’s difficult to underestimate the power of creating a connection through words, but that is precisely what happens during a moving speech.
Novices should also be aware that some public speakers don’t write the speeches they’re responsible for delivering. For instance, busy business executives who frequently deliver keynote speeches at trade conferences will sometimes rely on a premium essay writing service rather than composing something from scratch. Those tactics let the public speaker focus exclusively on content delivery and rehearsal. There are, of course, serious risks involved with utilizing an external service, but that is why proper due diligence is essential to success. Neglecting adequate investigation is a recipe for disaster no matter what.
Some seasoned public speakers refuse to deliver words other than their own and that, too, is a respectable approach. It is imperative to recognize that such a stance demands much more involvement. Deborah Grayson Riegel at The Muse already did us the favor of describing how to write an amazing speech for any occasion. She broke the process down into three digestible steps: preparation, organization, and presentation (with passion). Preparation is all about finalizing different thoughts whereas organization has the individual weaving them together into a cogent theme. The last stage is fairly self-explanatory. Impassioned orators channel palpable passion and verve as they unravel their subject matter before the audience.
Suffice it to say that extraordinary public speaking is typically not the result of chance. Quite the contrary, in fact. Public speaking can definitely be improved through education and deliberate practice. Given the centrality of the skill to daily life, there is no reason why we should not make real attempts at getting better. That being said, let’s not delude ourselves: people should know that progress is likely to be slow going at the beginning, similar to anything new we try.
